We’re talking about effective recruitment with Kaaren Whitney-Vernon, successful entrepreneur with an impressive marketing background, and founder of the recruitment innovation tool, happy hive.
Kaaren is also an award-winning executive producer passionate about solving communication problems through storytelling, sits on multiple marketing advisory boards and is an avid champion of inclusion with a strong focus on women in tech.
Her business, happy hive, is revolutionizing talent acquisition by capturing a 360-degree view of candidates’ abilities through unique, interactive assessments. By engaging applicants in problem-solving activities and other hands-on, real-world scenarios, employers can assess potential candidates for suitability beyond their resumes.
Happy hive also helps to mitigate hiring bias by broadening outreach and spotlighting potentially overlooked candidates. By showcasing real-world challenges designed to highlight diverse skills, they effectively amplify underrepresented talent.
Here’s what Kaaren had to share:
Tell us Kaaren, why should employers prioritize real-world skills assessments over relying solely on resumes when evaluating candidates?
Resumes show where someone has been but not what they’re truly capable of. Real-world skills assessments reveal how candidates think, collaborate, and solve problems in scenarios that mirror the job. At happy hive, we’ve seen how this approach surfaces hidden talent, reduces bias, and leads to better hiring decisions. The world is changing fast, and we need people who can adapt and respond to these changes.
Can you walk us through how happy hive’s assessment platform works, and what makes the process unique?
Happy hive helps companies define the competencies that matter most for a role, then builds customized, real-world challenges that reflect those needs. Candidates complete these challenges solo and in teams, demonstrating their ability to think critically, collaborate, and deliver results. We layer in AI analysis, peer reviews, and expert commentary to provide a 360-degree view of each candidate. It’s more than an assessment; it’s a living resume.
What gap or challenge in the hiring landscape motivated you to create happy hive?
We created happy hive to fix the disconnect between resumes and real readiness. Too often, great people are overlooked because they don’t fit a traditional profile or lack "local experience." Meanwhile, employers struggle to assess soft skills, team fit, and problem-solving in a meaningful way. We built happy hive to bridge that gap, bringing equity, insight, and better hiring outcomes to the forefront.
What practical advice would you offer to SMBs trying to attract and hire the right talent?
Start by getting crystal clear on what success looks like in the role, not just tasks, but behaviors, mindset, and impact. Don’t over-rely on credentials. Create opportunities for candidates to show, not tell, you what they can do. And be human in your outreach. SMBs can’t always compete on salary, but they can win by offering purpose, growth, and a great candidate experience.
Beyond your core services, what is happy hive’s broader mission, and how does that shape the way you work with clients?
Happy hive exists to help people and companies grow through meaningful work. We believe hiring should be human, fair, and grounded in potential. That mission drives everything we do, from the way we design assessments to how we support clients with onboarding tools, feedback loops, and long-term talent development strategies. We’re not just filling roles; we’re building stronger teams.
Finally, what tangible benefits can businesses expect when partnering with happy hive?
You’ll see faster, more confident hires, reduced bias, and a higher retention rate. Our clients also tell us they spend less time screening and more time engaging with the right candidates. Plus, our assessment data helps them refine their hiring processes over time.
We hope that you enjoyed learning about happy hive and the benefits of tailored hiring processes. Consider how happy hive can support your small business in all your talent acquisition needs. You can connect with Kaaren and other professionals on B2BeeMatch. Follow them on LinkedIn.
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